Apparatus for uniting a plurality of metal parts by melting metal



Jan. 20, 1953 R. c. MANN EI'AL 2,625,397

APPARATUS FOR UNITING A PLURALITY OF METAL PARTS BY MELTING METAL Filed Sept. 25, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet.- 1

BY u l W 84x PM qrrae/vevs i 1953 R. c. MANN ET AL 2,625,897

APPARATUS FOR UNITING A PLURALITY OF METAL PARTS BY MELTING METAL Filed Sept. 25, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 20, 1953 R. c. MANN ET AL 2,625,897

' APPARATUS FOR UNITING A PLURALITY OF METAL PARTS BY MELTING METAL Filed Sept. 25, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Jan. 20, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,625,897 APhARA'i'Us FjORUNI'i'ING AhLtIRAL-iiiY 6F METAL PARTS BY MELTING METAL Ralph 0. Mann, van Nuy unieh rqs Ma Doii'ald, Gardenia, Calif. said MacDonald assigno'r to said Mann Application September 25,1948, Serial No. 51,216 6 oars-s. (01. 113-59) This inventionrelates to an apparatus ie'r un it ing Q3, plurality of metal parts by melting metal. particularly whereprojections of the metal parts are melted inthe operation of uniting the parts.

The invention is of particular value for the purpose of uniting the plates of a storage battery in which a lead lug is melted and united to proj ect-ions on the blades which are also melted in e o er ,p H p g It is the general object of the present invention to, provide an apparatus capable of automatic operation for sheeting a succession of unions in a single operation of the apparatus. By means oi thepresent invention a plurality of uniting operations are efiected automatically by the machine, constructed as to then auto matically ret n to its initial position in preparation for a second series of Operations.

means of the present invention a plurality of b atteris may have their plates united by "one operation of the machine.

ffl ieapparatus of the present invention cornprises a carriage which is mounted to move with respect to arow of plates of a number or different batteries. Upon the carriage there is provided gas burners or nozzles for projecting a name directly on the battery plates. The operation of turning on the burners and igniting the same is entirely automatic as well as the movement or the carriage so as to progressively cause the jets from the burners to be properly directed in succession on to a line of batteryplates. Moreover, the apparatus is provided with means to effect an automatic return movement at the end of each operation and to automatically shut 'oif the gas supply.

y means of the apparatus of the present invention it is therefore required only that a single lever be utilized both to effect the burning of a multiplicity ofhatteiisand also to return the apparatus to the initial starting position and shutoff the apparatus until needed for further operation. v v

I A particular feature of the apparatus of the present invention is that it is. constructed and a1; angedso as toauto'in'atically bring a succession of nozzles into operation on the same zone or part to be melted. This operation is of anama value in uniting the plates of storage battery cells, since it achieves what may be termed a puddling operation. The metal to be melted becomes melted by the operation of the first nozzle or nozzles which are acting in succession on the particular zone, while the following nozzles sat t6 puddle or stir the molten lead so as to l assure a more proper union. n ure 1 is a plan new.

s gns 2 is, a section sued -sush on as iine -.';2. s1 s l hr is section siibstantlally on the line 3 or Figure 1.

2 Figure 4 is a fragmentary section substantially on the line 4-40 Figure 1. s x I W i re 5 is a r men els a ie fissi e? Figure 3, with the control bar moved to off position.

a lure 6 is season on the line as oi A o Figure "7 is a perspective view of one or the completed units. 7 I

The apparatus comprises a carriage 2, the rear end of which is mounted on a horizontal rod 3 for a sliding movement. The carriage 2 is pivoted on the rod 3 and mounts an electric motor :l which drives a pinion 5, which in one position engages the horizontal rack 6. The carriage 2 mounts a manifold 7, to which is Connected a plurality of pipes which lead to nozzles 9. The nozzles P3 are positioned facing downwardly at progressively greater distances from the carriage, so that in operation the zones, 'aifected by each nozzle 5) partially overlap and a broader area is covered than if the nozzles were in alignment. is

The manifold 'Iis connected by a flexible hose 8 to a valve Ill which is connected to a source of gas for the nozzles 9. The valve I0 is adapted to control the flow of gas into the hose 8. A stem I l of the valve Ill is in contact withan adjustable rocker member 12 which enga e a roller and a, pivoted ar'm 13 connected to a rodI-l. v The rod I4 is in turn connected to a lever is pivoted to the frame of the machine as indicated atl'e, the lever l5 being normally urged by spring I] in the direction to close the valve It. The carriage 2 is indicated as attached to a cable 58, passing around a pulley l9 to a weight 29 whichas here-- after described, is efiective f or returning the carriage to the starting position. g There is provided a control bar 24 which at its left end, as viewed in the drawings, is pro-- vided Withan angled slot 23 within which there is a roller 22 supported by a bracket 2| fromthe arm. The angled slot allows the barot'o drfop when the bar is moved to the right, but causes the bar to be elevated when it is ,moved to the left. Thebar is moved to the right bycoiita'ct with a projection from the lever l 5, when the lever is moved clockwise. Thecontrol was when it moves to its elevated position contacts he carriage 2 to pivot the carriage abou t the '3 and disengage the drive pinioni. flhe co trol bar when it is moved to its lowerppsition we the carriage to pivot backinto positicn to bring the pinion 5 back in contact with the reel; 6. Near the opposite end of mesons-o1 hatev 21 is provided an angled slot 25 similar to slot 23, as the frame supports a roller 26 operating iii that slotfor elevating and raising the right end 6f eontrolba'rfl. In Figure 3 the control ar is indic tea as h vmg; been moved to the right or operating position.

The right end 6f the tar in mil/area or spa- 3 ating position, contacts plunger'29 of a solenoid 333 which operates, as hereafter described, for the purpose of returning the control ba to the left,

or off position. The control bar also carries a contact member 3 I, which in the lowered position of the control bar, as shown in Figure 3, is adapted to close the electric switch 32. This electric switch is connected by an electric lead line (not shown), to the motor 4 so that the closing of such switch energizes the motor 4.

By this construction, when the lever 15 is turned clockwise, through rod l4 valve I is turned to the on position to cause the flow of gas to the nozzles 9. The gas from such nozzles is ignited by a pilot 33 connected to the gas supply lines by pipe 34 and supported by the frame. Simultaneously, the control bar 24 is moved to the right and lowered. This operation lowers the carriage 2 so that the pinion now engages the rack 6 and the motor 4 starts the carriage moving slowly to the right of the apparatus, the switch 32 being closed by the lowering of the bar to energize the motor. The carriage moves to the end of the apparatus where a portion of the carriage contacts a switch 33a, which is connected by lines (not shown) to the solenoid 36. The solenoid 30 thrusts the control ba 24 tov the left, thereby elevating the bar and opening the switch 32 to stop the motor 4. The carriage is then drawn back to the left or starting position by the weight 20. Furthermore, the movement of the control bar 24 through the rod l4 shuts off the flow of gas to nozzles 9. Through contact the gas is shut oil from nozzle 9 because when the control bar 24 is moved to the left it again contacts the projection of lever l5 rotating the lever l5 counter-clockwise, which in turn moves bar l4 in direction to close valve II].

From the frame 35 there extends bars 36 which support a plate 31, which plate is provided with a plurality of slots 38 for receiving the plates of the lead storage battery. On the top of the plate 31 is provided a second plate 39 which has a plurality of recesses 40, one for each storage battery to be produced. These recesses 40 align and are provided with notches 4| for receiving a lug 42, which is composed of lead, and also furnishes the lead which is to be melted in uniting the storage plates together. Bolts 42A are provided, which space the bars 36 from a base member 43 which serves as a support for the lower end of the usual lead cells 44 of a storage battery. By this construction the usual lead cells of the storage battery may be supported on the base 43 with their upper terminals 45 fitted in the slots 38 and thereby held properly spaced apart and in position for the lead melting operation. The lugs 42 are then positioned as indicated and serve, along with the terminals 45 to provide the lead which is melted into the open ings 40 and thereby unite the cells of the battery together, as indicated in Figure '7, likewise uniting these to the lug 42,

It will be seen that when the lead plates 44 and the terminals 45 are assembled as described, it requires only a single movement of the lever [B to turn on the machine. As the carriage moves horizontally, the terminals 45 are heated and the lead runs down, uniting with the plates of the batteries. Due 'to the offset relation of the successive nozzles 9, a puddling action on the melted lead is effected to insure complete and proper union of the lead with the plates. When the carriage automatically returns to the S r position, clamps 46 are released and the battery cells removed, allowing for the installation of a further set for further operation. By the apparatus herein described, I have found it possible to burn storage batteries very rapidly and satisfactorily in a machine that is automatic in its operation.

While the particular form of the machine herein described is well adapted to carry out the objects of the present invention, various modifications and changes may be made and this invention is of the scope set forth in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A lead burning apparatus for melting lead in a series of connecting molds and uniting said lead to battery plates, which includes a carriage, a frame including a member along which said carriage is horizontally movable and to which said carriage is pivoted, a rack mounted by said frame parallel to said member, a motor mounted on said carriage connected to a pinion engaging said rack on pivoting of said carriage for horizontally moving said carriage, gas nozzles mounted on said carriage in position for operation on said molds during movement of said carriage, gas supply means connected to said nozzles, including a valve, a control bar mounted by said frame parallel to the path of said carriage and movable into contact with said carriage for pivoting said pinion to and from contact with said rack, a switch for said motor operated on the movement of said control bar to permit said pinion to engage said rack, said control bar having projections to actuate said switch, and means to move said control bar including an operating member for said control bar, said operating member being connected to said valve'for opening said valve on the movement of the control bar by said operating member.

2. A lead burning apparatus for melting lead in a series of connecting molds and uniting said lead to battery plates, which includes a carriage, a frame including a member along which said carriage is pivoted, a rack mounted by said frame parallel to said member, a motor mounted on said carriage connected to a pinion engaging said rack on pivoting of said carriage for horizontally moving said carriage, gas nozzles mounted on said carriage in position for operation on said molds during movement of said carriage, gas supply means connected to said nozzles, including a valve, a control bar mounted by said frame parallel to the path of said carriage and movable into contact with said carriage for pivoting said pinion to and from contact with said rack, a switch for said motor operated on the movement of said control bar to permit said pinion to engage said rack, said control bar having projections to actuate said switch, and means to move said control bar including an operating member for said control bar, said operating member being connected to said valve for opening said valve on the movement of the control bar by said operating member, and a solenoid having a plunger for returning said control bar to posi tion to release said pinion from said rack.

3. A lead burning apparatus for melting lead in a series of connecting molds and uniting said lead to battery plates, which includes a carriage, a frame including a member along which said carriage is horizontally movableand to which said carriage is pivoted, a rack mounted by said frame parallel to said member, a motor mounted on said carriage connected to a pinion engaging said rack on pivoting of said carriage for horizontally moving said carriage, gas nozzles mounted on said carriage in position for operation on said molds during movement of said carriage, gas supply means connected to said nozzles, including a valve, a control bar mounted by said frame parallel to the path of said carriage and movable into contact with said carriage for pivoting said pinion to and from contact with said rack, a switch for said motor operated on the movement of said control bar to permit said pinion to engage said rack, said control bar having projections to actuate said switch, and means to move said control bar including an operating member for said control bar, said operating member being connected to said valve for opening said valve on the movement of the control bar by said operating member, a solenoid having a plunger for returning said control bar to position to release said pinion from said rack, and a switch for said solenoid contacted by said carriage at the end of its movement for energizing said solenoid.

4. A lead burning apparatus for melting lead in a series of connecting molds and uniting said lead to battery plates, which includes a carriage, a frame including a member along which said carriage is horizontally movable and to which said carriage is pivoted, a rock mounted by said frame parallel to said member, a motor mounted on said carriage connected to a pinion engaging said rack on pivoting of said carriage for horizontally moving said carriage, gas nozzles mounted on said carriage in position for operating on said molds during movement of said carriage, gas supply means connected to said nozzles, including a valve, a control bar mounted by said frame parallel to the path of said carriage and movable into contact with said carriage for pivoting said pinion to and from contact with said rack, a switch for said motor operated on the movement of said control bar to permit said pinion to engage said rack, said control bar having projections to actuate said switch, and means to move said control bar including an operating member for said control bar, said operating member being connected to said valve for opening said valve on the movement of the control bar by said operating member, and weight-actuated means connected to said carriage for automatically returning said carriage to starting position on pivoting of said carriage to disconnect said pinion and rack.

5. A lead burning apparatus for melting lead in a series of molds and uniting the same to battery plates, which comprises a combination, with means for holding a number of storage battery plates and lugs in position to form molds in which lead may be melted and united to said plates and lugs, of a carriage, a frame including a rod, said carriage being pivotally and slidably movable relative to said molds on said rod, said carriage mounting a plurality of spaced-apart gas nozzles in position to act on said molds on movement relative thereto, said carriage having a motor provided with a pinion, a rack mounted by said frame parallel to said rod in position to be contacted by said pinion on pivoting of said carriage to provide driving means for said carriage, a weight-actuated return for said carriage, gas supply means for said nozzles, including a valve, a control bar mounted by said frame parallel to the path of said carriage and movable to pivot said carriage to bring said pinion into contact with said rod, a starting switch for said motor closed on such movement of said control bar, said control bar having projections to actuate said switch, and means to move said control bar including an operating member for said control bar connected to said valve for opening said valve on movement of said control bar to so pivot said carriage, and means contacted by said carriage on the end of its movement for automatically moving the control bar to pivot the carriage to release the pinion from said rack and permit automatic return of the carriage by said weightactuated means.

6. A lead burning apparatus for melting lead in a series of molds and uniting the same to battery plates, which comprises a combination, with means for holding a number of storage battery plates and lugs in position to form molds in which lead may be melted and united to said plates and lugs, of a'carriage, a frame including a rod, said carriage being pivotally and slidably movable relative to said molds, on said rod, said carriage mounting a plurality of spaced-apart gas nozzles in position to act on said molds on movement relative thereto, said carriage having a motor provided with a pinion, a rack mounted by said frame parallel to said rod in position to be contacted by said pinion on pivoting of said carriage to provide driving means for said carriage, a weight-actuated return for said carriage, gas supply means for said nozzles, including a valve, a control bar mounted by said frame parallel to the path of said carriage and movable to pivot said carriage to bring said pinion into contact with said rod, a starting switch for said motor closed on such movement of said control bar, said control bar having projections to actuate said switch, and means to move said control bar including an operating member for said control bar connected to said valve for opening said valve on movement of said control bar to so pivot said carriage, means contacted by said carriage on the end of its movement for automatically moving the control bar to pivot the carriage to release the pinion from said rack and permit automatic return of the carriage by said weightactuated means, said control bar being mounted parallel to said rod for a limited horizontal movement, and means for vertically moving the control bar on its limited horizontal movement to effect pivoting of the carriage.

RALPH C. MANN. RICHARD A. MACDONALD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 948,965 Budd Feb. 8, 1910 1,358,869 Norris Nov. 16, 1920 1,410,716 Peers Mar. 28, 1922 1,487,043 Youtsey Mar. 18, 1924 1,715,020 Von Grimmenstein May 28, 1929 1,740,033 Pinckney Dec. 17, 1929 1,751,077 DArdenne Mar. 18, 1930 1,841,194 Lormor Jan. 12, 1932 1,960,195 Nyce May 22, 1934 2,403,221 Howard July 2, 1946 2,430,188 Sargent Nov. 4, 1947 

